New details emerge about the bombs used by Israel in Gaza school massacre
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Recent developments have shed light on the devastating Israeli airstrike that targeted Al-Tabi’een School and mosque in Gaza City, which resulted in the murder of at least 125 civilians. The strike, which occurred early Saturday morning during dawn prayers, has sparked international condemnation and raised concerns about the methods and weapons used by the Israeli military.
The Gaza Civil Defense reported that the Al-Tabi’een school, located in the Al-Daraj neighborhood, was sheltering approximately 2,400 displaced Palestinians when it was hit. Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense, described the aftermath as a horrific massacre, noting that “many of the victims were unrecognizable due to the severity of their injuries.”
Israeli officials confirmed the strike, claiming that it targeted “a Hamas command center”. However, they claimed that “precise munitions” were used to minimize civilian casualties. This claim has been met with skepticism by local authorities and international observers.
Mohammad Al-Mughair, Director of Supply for Gaza’s Civil Defense, revealed that the Israeli military used three US-made MK-84 bombs in the attack. These bombs, each weighing over 2,000 pounds and capable of generating temperatures up to 7,000 degrees, were described as “lethal” and “indiscriminate” by Al-Mughair. He criticized Israel’s justification for the strike, pointing out that “these bombs are designed for maximum destruction and are not suitable for use in densely populated civilian areas.”
Weapons experts have also weighed in on the issue. According to Chris Cobb-Smith, a specialist in military ordnance who spoke to CNN, it was a GBU-39 small diameter bomb, which was used in the strike and it is “designed to minimize collateral damage,” but its application in such a densely populated area raises serious ethical and legal questions. Trevor Ball, a former US Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, identified parts of the GBU-39 bomb in the wreckage, confirming its use in the strike.
Israeli media outlet Maariv reported that the bombs were equipped with Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) systems, allowing them to be guided with high precision using GPS and advanced sensor technology. The JDAM system, commonly referred to as “heavy rain,” converts unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions, but the sheer power and size of the MK-84 make its use in civilian areas highly contentious. The report from Maariv also emphasized that these bombs were developed to ensure that the aircraft deploying them could safely distance itself from the blast zone, highlighting the advanced nature of the technology used in the strike .
As international pressure mounts, questions remain about the true intentions behind the strike and the extent of the devastation it has caused. The Palestinian government has called the attack part of a broader pattern of daily atrocities committed by Israeli forces.
